Whiffletree.



iNo.845,663.' PATENTED-FEB.26,1907.

N. P.- PETERSON.

WHIPFLETREB. APPLIOATIOF FILED we 15, 1900.

abhor/wags UNITED STATES FATENT, OFFICE. I

rare-a PETERSON, or ave.

WH FFLE ThEE'.

' aresewees.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26,

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, NELS PETER PETER son, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jewell, in the county of Hamilton and State oflowa, have invented certain new and useful-Improvements in W hiflle'tr'ee's, and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a'ppertain's to make and use the same. j r

This invention relates'to improvementsin whiffletrees.

The object of the invention is to provide a metallic .whifiietree which will be simple, strong, durable, and light in construction, means being provided whereby the whiflietree is pivotally connected to the tongue of a vehicle.

The foregoing and other objects are accomplished by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, .in Which Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a vehicle-tongue, showing the application of the invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the whiflietree, showing the tongue in cross-section. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the whifiletree, showing the tongue in side elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the singletrees, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lower whifiletree-attaching plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the whiffletree, which consists of an evener-bar 2, formed of upper and lower parallel metal plates or bars 3. Said bars are of suitable width and length and have their ends preferably rounded, as shown. Midway between the ends of the bar 2 the plates 3 are provided with alined apertures, through which is adapted to be inserted a ivot-bolt 4. On the bolt 4, between the p ates 3, is arranged a coil-spring 5, between the ends of which and the inner sides of the plates 3 are arranged washers 6, through which the bolt 4 also projects. Connected to the plates 3, adjacent to their rear edges and near their ends, are loops 7, with which are adapted to be connected stay chains or straps. (Not shown.)

The outer ends of the plates 3 are preferably bent inwardly, and between said inwardly-bent ends are pivotally-mounted singletrees 8, each of which consists of upper and lower plates 9, said plates being preferably wider at their central portion and taper gradually toward their ends, as"shown. The singletrees 8 are ive'fta y their ed a tween the ends of "the plates 3 of the bar by means of bolts 10, on betwfeer the outer sides of the'platee Qan'dt' er sides of the plates 3', aredisp wash s '12, Between the plates 9., to

trees, is arranged acylijndrieal' pae in 13, through which the b'oltffs 1 o pa The tapered ends of the iaite sf' "9 er t j singletrees are i brought together outer ends and have riveted or, o't" cured thereto trace-engaging ho ok be n ip' i a f hj Q.- rj ee'ting ends or points" to hold thetra Y place and with attaching-plates 15, which are ada ted to be engaged with the opposite sides of t e ends of the singletrees and to be riveted thereto, as hereinbefore described.

On the upper side of the tongue of the vehicle is secured a lower whiflietree-attaching plate 16, said late consisting of a centrallydisposed circu ar portion 17, upon which the lower plate of the evener-bar is adapted to rest, and with longitudinal oppositelyrojecting attaching portions 18, through W 'ch are inserted fastening-screws, by means of which the plate is attached to the tongue. Above the plate 16 is arranged an u per whiflietree-attaching plate 19, said plate aving a circular whiflietree-engagin portion 20, on which is formed a longitudlnaloppositelydisposed downwardly-curved attaching 01'- tion 21, which is secured to the attac 'ng portion 17 of the plate 16 byscrews or bolts to fasten the same to the tongue. The whiffietree-engaging portion of the plates 16 and 19 are provided with alinin apertures, through which the bolt 4 of the w 'fl'letree is inserted, said bolt also passing through the tongue. On the lower end of the bolt is arranged a nut 22, which is preferably held in place by means of a cotter-pin 23 or other suitable fastening device.

A whiflietree constructed as herein shown and described may be used in connection with any vehicle and will be found to be of greater strength and durability and superior in all respects to the common form of wooden whiflietrees.

From the fore oing description, taken in connection with t e accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended ex lanation.

Various changes in the orm, proportion,

and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

'1; In an evener, two centrally-perforated plates secured parallel to each other at a distance apart, a singletree pivotally secured at each end of the evener between said plates, said singletree comprising two plates, the central portions of which are at a distance apart and perforated and the ends are tapered and in contact, a hook on each end of each singletree, said hook being provided with oppositely-projecting ends for holding the trace and with attaching-plates which engage with the op osite sides of the singletree and are riveted securing the evener in position.

" 2. In an evener, two centrally-perforated thereto, and means for a plates secured parallel to each other at a distance a art, a singletree pivotally secured between t e plates at each end of the evener, two securing-plates arranged respectively above and below the evener and at right angles thereto, said securing-plates being perforated at their ends to register with each other and at their middles to register with the perforations in the evener-plates, the up er securing-plate being bent upwardly at its middle, a bolt through the central perforations of all of said plates, fasteners through the end perforations of the securing-plates, a spring upon said bolt between the evener-plates, and 'a washer at each end of said spring.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- HGSSGS.

NELS PETER PETERSON.

Witnesses:

RAsMUs KOLLING, f N. P. CLEMMnNsEN. 

